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When Kevin Levesque steps onto the stage at The Palm Cabaret & Bar, audiences know they’re in for a fast-paced hour of music, comedy and quick-change theatrics. Levesque — better known as Miss Conception — has been performing in Puerto Vallarta for more than 15 years. This season, she returned with Make America Gay Again … Not the 51st State, a show built around live vocals, political humor and a long list of queer cultural touchstones.
The production mixes more than 22 costume changes with impersonations of some of the most recognizable figures in music and LGBTQ+ history. Miss Conception moves through characters including Lady Gaga, Cher, Liza Minnelli, Elton John, Freddie Mercury, Dolly Parton, Chappell Roan, Judy Garland and so many more. The transformations are fast, often happening in seconds, a signature element of Levesque’s performance style.
The show is co-written with Jacques Lamarre and features costume design by Puerto Vallarta-based José Luis Casillas (JOSELO), along with seamster Jeff Christensen and accessories by Manolo Becker. Isel Celis is back for her 11th season assisting Miss Conception along with Alberto Cuevas.
Many of the reveals use the quick-change methods popularized on talent shows, something Levesque has incorporated into several of his past productions. The result is a sequence of characters delivered one after another, tied together with jokes, narration and live singing.
The musical selections range from “This Is Me” to “New York, New York” to her rendition of “Big, Gay and Beautiful,” along with a lighthearted performance of “Blame Canada” from South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. That number plays into the show’s theme of cross-border humor. Levesque is from Mississauga, Ontario, and often incorporates his Canadian identity into his material, especially when performing for largely American crowds.
The title Make America Gay Again … Not the 51st State reflects the show’s mix of satire and cultural commentary.
In a conversation with Out & About PV Magazine he explained that he wanted the show to entertain while also acknowledging the importance of LGBTQ+ history.
“We need to all come together and stand up, now more than ever,” he said. He noted that both straight allies and younger LGBTQ+ audience members often attend his shows, and he sees value in giving them a connection to past struggles and milestones.
Miss Conception’s long relationship with Puerto Vallarta is part of what anchors her shows here. She first performed at The Palm Cabaret more than a decade ago and has returned each season as the city’s LGBTQ+ entertainment scene expanded. The Palm has become known for its mix of drag, comedy and cabaret, and Miss Conception has been one of its most consistent performers. In 2024 at the Puerto Vallarta Best of Gays Awards Miss Conception won Best Act/Performance, while the club itself was named Best Theater. In the We Are Puerto Vallarta Awards she won (two years in a row) Best Touring Drag Queen.
Levesque’s career began far from the beaches of Vallarta. He got his start in Toronto after friends encouraged him to enter a bar show on a whim. That first performance led to mentoring from established drag artists, including his drag mother, Ricky Raunch. Over the next several years he developed his style of live-singing drag and quick-change costumes, earning titles such as Miss Canada Continental and Miss Gay Toronto.
Beyond clubs and cabarets, Miss Conception’s reach has extended internationally. She has performed on both ocean and river cruises throughout Europe, with stops in Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Hungary, Italy and France. She has also shared stages with performers including Leslie Jordan, Lorna Luft and Jennifer Holliday. Television appearances have included Queer as Folk, Degrassi: The Next Generation, and Wipeout Canada, where she became the first drag contestant to complete the obstacle course in full drag.
Levesque has also used his platform to support charity initiatives, particularly organizations related to HIV/AIDS. Fundraising and community work have been part of his offstage career for many years, supplementing the touring calendar that takes him between Canada, Mexico and the United States.
At The Palm Cabaret, Make America Gay Again… Not the 51st State runs as a 70 minute show on two nights each week. Monday performances begin at 9 p.m., with doors at 8:30, while Thursday shows start at 7 p.m., with doors at 6:30. There will be added shows in February 2026, the Palm notes a suggested two-drink minimum.
The tone of the show reflects Levesque’s broader approach: familiar music, humor grounded in current events, rapid visual transitions and a connection with the audience that comes from years of performing in intimate spaces. While the title might strike as political, the show itself aims to bring people together in a room where everyone can enjoy the same mix of nostalgia, satire and theatrical timing.
For long-time fans, Miss Conception’s return to The Palm is a seasonal tradition. For new attendees, it’s an introduction to a drag performer whose career spans continents, stages and genres, tied together by a blend of comedy and live vocal performance. Make America Gay Again… Not the 51st State continues that trajectory with a show designed to entertain while reflecting on the icons and moments that shaped queer culture.
Show and ticket information is available at missconception.com and The Palm Cabaret’s official website.
Photo by Jamie Alexander:
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